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Recognized for success in finance and fitness in Lynbrook, East Rockaway

Local business people honored by Nassau County Council of Chambers

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A Lynbrook bank manager and two East Rockaway fitness center owners were honored last Friday by the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce at its 30th annual Small Businesspersons of the Year awards, at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. The honorees were selected by their respective local chambers.

Linda Stephenson, branch manager of the Bethpage Federal Credit Union in Lynbrook, and Robert D’Urso and Michael Hawksby, owners of Revolution of Kinetics Health and Fitness (known as the ROK) were this year’s honorees.

“I think we are both really honored and feel privileged to receive this award,” said Hawksby, who started the East Rockaway fitness center with D’Urso in 2012. “We’re very humbled. It’s great to be able to take a step back and know that there are people who notice and appreciate what you do.”

Stephenson said she took pride in the distinction. “It really meant a lot to me,” she said. “I was a little taken aback, and I was very humbled and very flattered. When you’re doing things it’s easy not to realize that your work is really appreciated and seen as important. To be recognized by your peers is really a great thing.”

Stephenson, who has worked at the Lynbrook Bethpage Federal branch for over a decade, donates her time at a number of community events in Lynbrook and helps people with their income taxes as well. She has also represented her company when it has sponsored the Lynbrook Summer Car Shows and Night at the Theater.

Though she has been a Valley Stream resident most of her life, Stephenson said that she has always had great affection for Lynbrook, and is glad to be able to contribute to the community. “Lynbrook really is such a great town, and it’s great to be thought of as such an important part of the community,” she said. “I’ve always been fond of Lynbrook, and even lived here as a young mother some time ago. I always loved being able to walk into the downtown area and visit the shops and businesses. Even now that I’ve moved away, I keep coming back to Lynbrook for much of my shopping … my mother always taught me to support things you truly believe in with your dollars, and that’s why I keep coming back.”

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